Proceedings of the Academy. 187 



The following persons were admitted to membership: 



Life Members:— lion. J. B.Thomas, Sheboygan Falls ; N.S.Green, Esq., Milford; 

 Hon J. I. Case, Racine; Hon. Simeon Mills, Madison: Jas. L. Hill, Esq., Madison; 

 Hon. J. G. Thorp, Madison; John H. Van Dyck, Esq., Milwaukee; Jas. J. Hagerman, 



Annu.'^l Members:— Rt. Rev. W. E. Armitage, Milwaukee; Pres. W. C. Whitford, 

 MiUon; Prof T. H. Litlle, Blind Asylum, Janesville : Samuel P. Gary, Esq., Oshkosh; 

 Rev Albert O.Wright, Waterloo; Mr. Cyrus T. Hawley, Milwaukee; Prof. John E. 

 Davies, State University, Madison; Rev. J. B. Pradt, Madison; Capt.W. A. DeLaMatyr, 

 Mazomanie; Eugene R. Leland, Esq., Milwaukee; Alex. Provis, Esq., Laneaster; Mr. 

 Jas. J. Cammack, Madison; Elisha Burdick, Esq., Madison; John R. Baltzel, Esq., 

 Mudisou; Prof. R. G. Hinsdale, Racine College; Rev. J. C. C. Clarke, Madison; Hon. J. 

 T. Kingston, Necedah; Dr. Moses Barrett, Waukesha. 



On motion of J. G. Knapp, it was 



Resolved, That the fees for members for life be set apart as a permanent endowment 

 fund to be invested in Wisconsin State bonds, or other equally safe securities, and that 

 the proceeds of said fund, only, be used for the general purposes of the Academy. 



A committee was appointed to apply to the Governor for the 

 assignment of apartments in the capitol for the proper preser- 

 vation of such scientific specimens, books, and other collections 

 as may become the property of the Academy. 



The President and Secretary were authorized to continue, 

 from time to time, the publication of the Bulletin. 



Adjourned till 9 o'ciock of the following morning. 



Second Session — Communications. 



The Academy met pursuant to adjournment, for the reading 

 and discussion of papers. There were present several additional 

 members ; the President in the Chair. 



The following are the titles of papers presented and discussed 

 during the morning session, with the leading ideas contained: 



1. On the Classification of the Sciences. By Rev. Albert 

 O. Wright, of Waterloo. Mr. Wright said in substance, that 



Every science has two aspects, a concrete and an abstract. The logical order is from 

 the abstract to the concrete. But the order of discovery is first the practice of an art, then 

 the gathering of facts for the concrete science, then ordering the principles for the abstract 

 science. These last have an order among themselves, which the concrete sciences and 

 the arts follow. Rising from the lower to the higher, this order of the abstract sciences, 

 with their dependent sub-sciences, concrete sciences and practical arts is; Mathematics, 

 Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Sociology, Theology. Each of 

 these sciences has a principle underlying it which we have discovered or hope to dis- 

 cover; and each science uses its own laws and the laws of all below it, but not of those 

 above it; and no science can be completed until the one next below it is. Commenc- 

 iuc with the science of Abstract Relations, by adding one law, we have the science of 

 celestial phenomena: by adding again one law, we have the science of terrestrial phe- 

 jiomena ; again adding one law, we have the science of chemical affinities ; at the next 

 step we enter the domain of i«7«, at the next that oi mind, at the next that of »u«d m 

 masses; and by the last and greatest step we rise to the Supreme of the Universe. 



2. On the importance of more attention to the Preservation 

 and culture of Forest Trees in Wisconsin. By Mr. P. Engel- 

 mann. Secretary of the Natural History Society, Milwaukee. 



The author commented on the rapid destruction of the forests in the State, now going 

 on with a geometrical ratio of progression that must, within comparatively a very few 

 years, bring not only a scarcity of timber, notwithstanding the munificent provisions of 

 Nature, but likewise important and unfavorable changes in the climate of the State. He 

 cited the governments of the Old World as examples of the provident care induced by 

 the lessons of experience, and also alluded to the wise legislative action of some of the 

 neighboring States of the Union in providing for even, the planting of forests whore they 

 have not existed heretofore. This seemed to be a matter of suflicient importance to receive 

 the present, and earnest consideration of the Academy and of the Legislature of the 

 State. 



